Tray dumper and washer



Dec. 14, 1965 H. E. SPAULDING 3,223,097

TRAY DUMPER AND WASHER Filed Jan. 31, 1964 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR 194E010 EPA/57.5P/70L0/M6 A T TOP/V5) Dec. 14, 1965 E. SPAULDING 3,223,097

TRAY DUMPER AND WASHER Filed Jan. 31, 1964 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Dec. 14, 1965 E. SPAULDING 3,223,097

TRAY DUMPER AND WASHER Filed Jan. 31, 1964 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 nrraen/z v Dec. 14, 1965 E. SPAULDING 3,223,097

TRAY DUMPER AND WASHER Filed Jan. 31, 1964 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 M F F.

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HIEOLD 194! 5 7' SP4! O/A/G BY MQM IYTTOE/VEY United States Patent ,2 7 TRAY DUMPER AND WASHER Harold Ernest Spaulding, Palmer Township, Easton, Pa., assignor to American Can Company, New York, N.Y., a corporation of New Jersey Filed Jan. 31, 1964, Ser. No. 341,683 7 Claims. (Cl. 13446) This invention relates to apparatus for the dumping of trays and is more particularly concerned with a mechanism adapted to receive and dump refuse-laden trays carladen trays.

It is an object of this invention to provide a novel mechanism adapted to receive and dump refuse-laden trays carried to it by a conveyor.

A further object of this invention is to provide a positive dumping action to rid the tray of the refuse and to clean the tray automatically while it is being cleared of the refuse.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a means for preventing the trays from entering the dumping mechanism when said mechanism is not in a position to receive the tray.

Further objects and advantages will be obvious from the following description of the mechanism, which is the preferred embodiment and given by way of illustration, with reference to the drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the mechanism;

FIG. 2 is a plan view thereof;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary view partly in section showing one phase of the operation of the mechanism;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary view partly in section of another operational phase;

FIGS. 5 through 7 are fragmentary views partly in section showing three succeeding steps in the operation of the mechanism;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken substantially along line 88 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 9 is a schematic perspective view partly in section of a portion of the mechanism.

Referring to the drawings, in the form of the mechanism shown, a conveyor belt 10 carries the refuse laden trays 11 toward the tray dumping mechanism; The tray dumping mechanism includes a pair of flipper arms 12a and 12b, which are generally oval in shape as shown in FIG. 1, and which are oscillated about a horizontal axis. The flipper arms are continuously oscillated by a crank and linkage system which is driven by the same power source that moves the conveyor. In this arrangement, a connecting rod 13 is rotatably attached to a crank arm 14 at its upper end, and at its lower end with a crank arm 15, which in turn is fixed to and rotates with a drive shaft 16. A pulley 10a also fixed to the shaft 16 drives the belt 10. The shaft 16 is rotated by an endless chain 17 driven by a suitable source of power (not shown). The mechanism as described above is mounted in a frame 18 which pro vides support for the drive shaft, and which extends for the full width of the mechanism.

The flipper arms 12a and 12b, which are generally oval in shape have an outwardly extending lip 19, above which there is a notch 20, adapted to receive the leading edge of a tray from the conveyor and to hold said tray edge firmly in position, while the lower surface of the tray rests upon the elongated lip 19.

To prevent successive trays being carried on the conveyor from interfering with the operation of the tray dumping mechanism, a trigger bar 21 is provided. This trigger bar 21 is disposed in front of the flipper arm 12a, and normally is spaced from the free end of the flipper arm 12a. The trigger bar 21 is mounted on a knuckle joint generally designated 22 enabling it to oscillate both generally horizontally and vertically. For horizontal oscillation the knuckle joint 22 comprises a block 23 (FIG. 9) pivotally mounted on a generally vertical clevis pin 24a extending between the legs of a clevis or yoke 24 aflixed to the machine frame 18. For attachment to the block 23 to provide the desired vertical oscillation, a stud 25 extends through one end of the trigger bar 21 and is screwed into the block 23 on a line substantially perpendicular to the axis of the clevis pin 24a. Suflicient clearance is left between the slotted head of the stud 25 and the block 23 to premit free oscillation of the trigger bar 21 thereon.

A tension spring 26, attached to the lower, rear corner, i.e., behind the clevis pin 24a and below the stud 25, of the trigger bar 21, biases the trigger bar in two directions to its normal position. This normal position is shown in dotted lines in FIG. 9 wherein the trigger bar is biased out of the path of the arm 12a and upwardly in the path of a tray 11. When the tray 11 contacts the upwardly extending portion of the trigger arm 21, the trigger arm is pushed to the position shown by the solid lines in FIG. 9.

As the flipper arm 12:: descends, the under surface of the outwardly extending lip 19 engages the upper surface of the trigger bar 21, which had been in the path of travel of the foremost tray. As the flipper arm continues to descend past the horizontal, the trigger bar is rotated in a generally downward direction about the stud 25 thereby removing the trigger bar 21 from the path of travel of the tray, and thus permitting the tray to ride onto the outwardly extending lip 19 of the flipper arms 12a and 1212.

As the flipper arms, with the leading edge of the tray 11 held in the notch 20 and resting on the elongated lip 19', reverse their downward direction, they begin to rise whereby arm 12:: disengages itself from the trigger bar 21, which by the action of the tension spring 26, returns the bar to its normal position as shown in FIG. 9, with the bar in the path of the travel of the next tray on the conveyor. During the rotation of the flipper arms 12a and 12b and the refuse laden tray 11 carried by them, the succeeding tray on the conveyor will contact the trigger bar 21, and be held from entering the tray dumping mechanism until the flipper arm 12a descends, and lowers the trigger bar 21. If the flipper arm 12a is below the horizontal when a tray strikes the trigger bar 21, the trigger bar cannot be pushed forwardly by the tray since it is striking against the free end of the flipper arm 120.

As soon as the leading edge of the tray 11 enters the notch 20, the flipper arms 12a and 12b commence to lift the tray. As the refuse laden tray rises and before it reaches a vertical position, the trailing edge of the tray contacts the electrical switch 27, which is located in the upper portion of the mechanism as shown in FIG. 1. This switch 27 closes a circuit which automatically turns on a spray of water from the nozzle 28, which spray washes the upper surface of the tray and helps to remove the refuse and debris thereon. As the tray passes the vertical position, it continues its arc until it falls against the stop 29 also shown in FIG. 4. This stop 29 is shown in the drawing as a portion of the mechanism frame. As the tray falls against the stop 29, the impact empties the tray of any remaining refuse and water and causes the tray to be displaced vertically downwardly until its upper edge (formerly trailing edge) clears the stop 29. The former leading edge of the tray 11 rides out of the notch 20 of the flipper arms, to permit the tray to fall until its upper edge is below the stop 29, and to continue to fall onto an inclined fall out guide 30 from which the tray slides by gravity to a stack 31 held in place in a tray frame 32 in a manner shown in FIGS. 1 and 6.

When the tray has fallen from the flipper arms 12a and 12b in a manner as described above, the flipper arms commence their descent to a position so that the lip 19 of each arm is below the horizontal as shown in FIG. 7 and is then ready to receive another tray from the conveyor.

In the operation of this mechanism, the refuse laden trays 11 being carried on the conveyor belt 10, are held back automatically from entering the mechanism While the flipper arms 12a and 12b are not in a position to receive the trays. When the flipper arms which carry the trays and cause the dumping action of the trays, return to a position below the horizontal plane and are ready to receive the next tray from the conveyor, the under surface of the outwardly extending lip of the arm 12a engages the upper part of the trigger bar and pushes it downwardly and out of the path of travel of the foremost tray on the conveyor belt 10. The tray is then allowed to enter the mechanism and the leading edge of the tray rides up on the outwardly extending lip 19 of each arm and enters their notch 20. The flipper arms 12a and 12b then commence their upward rotation carrying the tray upwardly, so that the trailing edge of the tray is lifted in an arc and the tray is upended. As the flippers rise above the horizontal to upend the tray, the trigger bar 21, is released and resumes its normal position to prevent succeeding trays on the conveyor from entering the mechanism. The tray held back by the trigger bar will be held in this position until the flipper arm 12a has completed its rotation, the tray has been dumped, and both flipper arms have returned to a horizontal position ready to receive the succeeding tray, at which time the trigger bar will be lowered to allow the tray to enter.

It is thought that the invention and many of its attendant advantages will be understood from the foregoing description and it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the form hereinbefore described being merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

I claim:

1. A mechanism for dumping trays being carried on a conveyor which comprises in combination:

conveyor means for carrying a plurality of trays in processional order along a substantially horizontal path of travel; flipper means spaced from the forward end of said conveyor means for grasping the leading edge of a tray running off said forward end;

means for oscillating said flipper means in a vertical plane whereby said grasped tray is oscillated upwardly substantially about its grasped edge from its horizontal position through an arc of at least 90 to permit matter thereon to become dislodged therefrom by the force of gravity; and

trigger means interposed between said forward end of said conveyor means and said flipper means and being oscillatable in a generally horizontal direction under the impetus of the leading edge of a succeeding tray and oscillatable in a generally vertical direction out of the path of said succeeding tray under the impetus of said flipper means when said flipper means is in a position to receive said succeeding tray.

2. The mechanism set forth in claim 1 wherein said flipper means comprises a pair of arms each mounted on 4 a common oscillatable shaft in horizontally spaced relation, said arms each being oscillatable in unison in its own vertical plane from a position extending substantially toward said conveyor means to a vertically upstanding position and return.

3. The mechanism set forth in claim 2 wherein said trigger means is interposed between said forward end of said conveyor and one of said arms.

4. A mechanism for the dumping of trays being carried on a conveyor which comprises:

a pair of flipper arms for receiving the tray from the conveyor;

a trigger bar spaced in front of one of the flipper arms and engageable by the leading edge of the foremost tray moving from the conveyor;

said trigger bar preventing said foremost tray from entering the mechanism when said flipper arms are not in a substantially horizontal position, and being oscillatable in a generally horizontal direction under the impetus of said leading edge when said flipper arms are in a substantially horizontal position;

said trigger bar also being engageable by the end edge of said one flipper arm when said flipper arms are in a substantially horizontal position and oscillatable in a generally vertical direction out of the path of said tray leading edge under the impetus of said flipper arm edge;

said flipper arms having a notch therein for receiving said tray leading edge when said flipper arms are in a substantially horizontal position; and

means for oscillating said flipper arms about a horizontal axis and to raise the tray engaged in said notch to a vertical position to rid the tray of matter thereon.

5. The mechanism set forth in claim 4 having additionally a stop located above the conveyor and beyond the vertical position of the tray when upended, said stop being adapted to contact the trailing edge of said tray to jolt the tray and thereby aid in ridding the tray of matter thereon.

6. The mechanism set forth in claim 5 having additionally a switch mounted with the actuating element thereof disposed in the path of travel of said tray as it is upended; and liquid spraying means controlled by the said switch whereby upon upending of said tray the matter-carrying surface thereof is sprayed to facilitate removal of said matter therefrom.

7. The mechanism set forth in claim 6 having additionally a downwardly inclined guide means disposed beneath said stop to receive a tray falling free of said stop and released by said flipper arms to conduct said tray to a stacking means.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 620,820 3/1899 Zies 134133 1,432,578 10/1922 Thomas et al 134134 2,399,087 4/1946 Abbott 2l43l4 2,835,398 5/1958 Temple et a1. 214314 3,071,144 1/1963 Hilliker 134-46 CHARLES A. WILLMUTH, Primary Examiner. 

1. A MECHANISM FOR DUMPING TRAYS BEING CARRIED ON A CONVEYOR WHICH COMPRISES IN COMBINATION: CONVEYOR MEANS FOR CARRYING A PLURALITY OF TRAYS IN PROCESSIONAL ORDER ALONG A SUBSTANTIALLY HORIZONTAL PATH OF TRAVEL; FLIPPER MEANS SPACED FROM THE FORWARD END OF SAID CONVEYOR MEANS FOR GRASPING THE LEADING EDGE OF A TRAY RUNNING OFF SAID FORWARD END; MEANS FOR OSCILLATING SAID FLIPPER MEANS IN A VETICAL PLANE WHEREBY SAID GRASPED TRAY IS OSCILLATED UPWARDLY SUBSTANTIALLY ABOUT ITS GRASPED EDGE FROM ITS HORIZONTAL POSITION THROUGH AN ARC OF AT LEAST 90* TO PERMIT MATTER THEREON TO BECOME DISLODGED THEREFROM BY THE FORCE OF GRAVITY; AND TRIGGER MEANS INTERPOSED BETWEEN SAID FORWARD END OF SAID CONVEYOR MEANS AND SAID FLIPPER MEANS AND BEING OSCILLATABLE IN A GENERALLY HORIZONTAL DIRECTION UNDER THE IMPETUS OF THE LEADING EDGE OF A SUCCEEDING TRAY AND OSCILLATABLE IN A GENERALLY TRAY UNDER THE OUT OF THE PATH OF SAID SUCCEEDING TRAY UNDER THE IMPETUS OF SAID FLIPPER MEANS WHEN SAID FLIPPER MEANS IS IN A POSITION TO RECEIVE SAID SUCCEEDING TRAY. 